The traffic in, and abuse of, illicit drugs results in significant social and financial costs to both individuals and the community. To minimise the harm associated with illicit drug activity, there is close cooperation between the Australian Government, the state and territory governments, the various police services and other law enforcement agencies. Included in these is the ACS which has, among other things, responsibility for the enforcement of laws controlling the import and export of illicit drugs. These agencies direct particular attention to monitoring the various types and forms of illicit drugs and identifying emerging patterns of use through the analysis of law enforcement data on illicit drug seizures and arrests.

As table 11.13 shows, in 2001-02 by far the largest category of drug arrests involved cannabis offences, with 55,494 arrests, or 75% of the national total. Queensland recorded almost a third of these arrests (17,068). The next largest category of arrests involved amphetamine offences ('speed'), with 8,063 offenders, or 11% of the national total.

11.13 DRUG ARRESTS(a) - 2001-02

Drug type

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA(b)

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.

NUMBER

Cannabis(c)

12,121

6,692

17,068

9,812

7,156

1,540

822

283

55,494

Cocaine

462

87

20

12

25

1

2

3

612

Heroin and other opioids

884

1,808

263

63

165

34

2

20

3,239

Amphetamine-type stimulants

2,043

1,608

2,007

475

1,725

89

56

60

8,063

Hallucinogens

26

32

12

12

7

1

3

-

93

Steroids

39

2

43

-

-

1

1

2

88

Other drugs(d)

1,048

982

3,313

176

451

237

1

10

6,218

Total

16,623

11,211

22,726

10,550

9,529

1,903

887

378

73,807

RATE PER 100,000 ADULT POPULATION

Cannabis(c)

183.4

138.4

465.8

647.3

373.9

326.2

416.0

88.4

284.2

Cocaine

7.0

1.8

0.5

0.8

1.3

0.2

1.0

0.9

3.1

Heroin and other opioids

13.4

37.4

7.2

4.2

8.6

7.2

1.0

6.2

16.6

Amphetamine-type stimulants

30.9

33.2

54.8

31.3

90.1

18.9

28.3

18.7

41.3

Hallucinogens

0.4

0.7

0.3

0.8

0.4

0.2

1.5

-

0.5

Steroids

0.6

-

1.2

-

-

0.2

0.5

0.6

0.5

Other drugs(d)

15.9

20.3

90.4

11.6

23.6

50.2

0.5

3.1

31.8

Total

251.5

231.8

620.2

696.0

497.9

403.1

448.8

118.0

377.9

(a) The arrest data for each state and territory include AFP data.(b) SA data are not comparable to data published in previous years due to differences in extraction and validation methods.(c) The SA, NT and ACT figures include infringement notices.(d) 'Other drugs' includes phencyclidine (PCP or 'angel dust'), diazepam, lignocaine, benzocaine, dothiepin, flunitrazepam, other prescription drugs, and any drug not included in the other categories.

While the number of cannabis arrests and infringement notices declined in the period 1996-97 through to 2000-01, the figures for 2001-02 showed a small increase. The upward trend in arrests associated with amphetamines peaked in 2000-01, before falling marginally in 2001-02. Heroin arrests peaked during 1998-99, before falling from this high point: 3,239 persons were arrested in 2001-02 compared to 7,396 in 2000-01, a 56% decrease (graph 11.14).

Information on the widespread problems arising from drug abuse in Australia, and on how these problems are being approached, is presented in the Australian Illicit Drug Report produced by the ACC.